Edwin Starr

Edwin Starr (January 21, 1942–April 2, 2003) was an American soul music singer. Starr is famous for his Norman Whitfield-produced Motown singles of the 1970s, most notably the number one hit "War".

Starr was born in Tennessee and raised in Ohio, and later lived in Detroit while singing for Ric Tic and Motown Records. Besides "War", Starr's songs "25 Miles" and "Stop the War Now" were also major successes in the 1960s. Starr's career shifted to the United Kingdom in the 1970s, where he continued to produce music, living there until his death.

Early life

Starr was born Charles Edwin Hatcher in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1942. He and his cousins, soul singers Roger and Willie Hatcher, moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where they were raised.

In 1957, Starr formed a doo-wop group, the Future Tones, and began his singing career. Starr lived in Detroit, Michigan, in the 1960s and recorded at first for the small Ric-Tic label, part of the Golden World recording company, and later for Motown Records (under the Gordy Records imprint), after the latter absorbed Ric-Tic in 1968.

Contact

Across the crowded disco-roomYou're amazed of dancing peopleShe sets a fire there all aloneWanna get you the disco-feverAnd if she raised her head her eyes caught mineAnd that was all that I neededIn her eyes I saw the need for loveThe warm, soft feeling'Cause we madeEye to eye contactEye to eye contact (Oh, oh, oh yeah)Eye to eye contact (We made)Eye to eye contactYou and meContact!You were looking at meI was looking at youYou were looking at meAcross the crowded disco-roomOh, your eyes told me the storyMy heart was beating like the drumAs I walked my way overI never took my eyes away from yoursNot even for a momentWhat I saw in your eyes made me realize(You I wanted) Yeah, yeah, yeah!Eye to eye contact (We made)Eye to eye contact (Oh, oh, oh yeah)Eye to eye contact (We made)Eye to eye contactYou and meI was looking at youYou were looking at meI was looking at youYou were looking at meContact!I was looking at youYou were looking at meI was looking at you